FREEPORT— Police say a patient wearing just a hospital gown left FHN Memorial Hospital early this morning and stole a pickup truck, prompting a police search and brief lockdown of Freeport schools.

The Jo Daviess Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from an individual around 3:16 a.m. claiming that he needed help to get to a Massachusetts mental health facility. Deputies located the individual and transported him to FHN Memorial Hospital, according to Freeport Deputy Chief Jim Drehoble.

Around 5:47 a.m., the man — whose name was not released by police — left wearing only the hospital gown. He was seen at 6:44 a.m. going into a garage in the 800 block of Cleveland Street. The individual was then seen behind Cub Foods, where a Freeport Police Department K-9 unit was called in to help track the man.

At 7:27 a.m., police received a call from a resident in the 1200 block of Woodside Drive stating that his Dodge Ram Pickup Truck was stolen from his driveway, and was last seen heading east.

Because there were reports that the man was in possession of a knife, Freeport Schools were briefly put on lockdown.

At 8:15 a.m., a Forreston Police Officer observed the vehicle driving on Illinois Route 26. The officer stopped the vehicle and took the man into custody.